A Presidents Cup Moment No One Saw Coming: How a Tiny Squirrel Stole the Spotlight from Tiger Woods

A Presidents Cup Moment No One Saw Coming: How a Tiny Squirrel Stole the Spotlight from Tiger Woods

As the 15th Presidents Cup kicks off at Royal Montreal Golf Club, all eyes are on Team USA as they deliver an emphatic sweep on Day 1. Yet, this isn’t the first time the Presidents Cup has seen unforgettable moments. In fact, in 2013, amidst the tension of international golf rivalries, a small, furry creature managed to upstage one of the sport’s biggest legends—Tiger Woods.

 

**The Presidents Cup Unfolds with an Unexpected Guest**

 

Golf fans had gathered at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, to watch some of the greatest players in the world face off. Team USA, with stars like Woods, Jordan Spieth, and Steve Stricker, was locked in a fierce battle with an International team featuring golf icons Ernie Els, Charl Schwartzel, and Adam Scott, who was then ranked No. 2 in the world.

But as the first day of play wound down, the attention shifted from the golf course to an unusual visitor. Gathered near the 18th green, surrounded by their families, Team USA had an unexpected supporter that quickly stole the show—Sammy the squirrel.

 

**The Unlikely Discovery: A Squirrel Finds Fame**

The squirrel’s adventure began earlier that day when U.S. captain’s assistant Davis Love III spotted the tiny creature near the second hole. Concerned that Sammy might get trampled by the crowd, Love decided to pick up the critter and feed it. What started as a simple act of kindness quickly turned into a Presidents Cup legend.

 

Throughout the day, Sammy rode in Love’s golf cart, moving from hole to hole as Team USA fought to secure their lead. But the squirrel wasn’t just a quiet passenger; it became the unofficial mascot of the U.S. team. In fact, Love was so taken with the little rodent that he decided to keep it close by, citing an old superstition passed down from his father.

**“My dad always picked up sticks for good luck, and he told me I had to keep it as long as we were winning holes,” Love later explained.**

 

The team, amused by the new addition, grew attached to Sammy. Love wasn’t sure if the squirrel was male or female, but Stricker’s wife, Nicki, decided to name the critter “Sammy.” By all accounts, Sammy seemed content, tucked safely away in Love’s right pocket as the day unfolded.

**The Moment Sammy Stole Tiger’s Spotlight**

 

As the final hours of Day 1 approached, the U.S. team gathered together to cheer on Spieth and Stricker, who were battling it out with Els and Brendon de Jonge. Among the crowd was superstar skier Lindsey Vonn, then in a high-profile relationship with Tiger Woods. And it was Vonn who orchestrated Sammy’s grand moment in the spotlight.

 

Seated next to Woods in a golf cart, Vonn coaxed the squirrel out of Love’s pocket, cupping her hands around the tiny creature. But it wasn’t what she did next that sparked the memorable moment—it was what happened after she placed Sammy directly on Woods’ shoulder.

 

**Tiger’s Unexpected Reaction**

 

Given his last name and connection to nature, one might assume Tiger Woods would feel at ease with animals. However, his reaction to the small squirrel resting on his shoulder told a different story. Clearly uncomfortable, Woods appeared visibly irritated as his teammates, including Keegan Bradley, watched and laughed. Even Vonn couldn’t resist the humor in the situation.

 

At one point, Woods tried to shrug the squirrel off, but Sammy clung on, much to the amusement of everyone watching. Ultimately, Woods relented, allowing the squirrel to stay perched on his shoulder while Vonn stroked the tiny animal, further adding to the surreal nature of the moment.

 

**A Short-Lived Celebrity: Sammy’s Farewell**

 

Sammy’s moment of fame was brief, but unforgettable. Love eventually returned the squirrel to where he had found it, but the critter was unable to reunite with its mother. Instead, Sammy was taken to the Ohio Wildlife Center, where experts determined the squirrel had likely been abandoned and was only a few months old when Love discovered it.

 

Angela Latham, the center’s community engagement coordinator, spoke with Golf.com about Sammy’s friendly nature and hinted at the creature’s true motivation. **“When young animals start approaching humans, they’re looking for food,”** Latham explained.

 

Sammy remained at the wildlife center until May 2014, when he was deemed old enough to fend for himself and released back into the wild.

 

**The Legacy of Sammy the Squirrel**

 

Sadly, Sammy’s story likely came to a natural end within a few years, as squirrels in the wild typically live for four to six years. But during its short life, Sammy managed to leave an indelible mark on the Presidents Cup, becoming part of one of the most endearing and unexpected moments in the event’s history.

 

With the Presidents Cup now underway once again, memories of Sammy the squirrel and his brief moment of glory remind us that in sports—especially in golf—you never know what might happen next.

 

Tune in to talkSPORT 2 at 10 p.m. for live coverage of Team USA’s quest to defend their Presidents Cup title at Royal Montreal. Will there be another unforgettable moment like Sammy’s? You won’t want to miss it.